Light and/or device having a compartment accommodating batteries of different types, sizes and/or shapes

Abstract

A portable light or device may comprise: a light source or operative element; a switch for controlling energization of the light source or operative element; and a housing supporting the light or operative element and the switch. The housing has a compartment having a relatively larger transverse dimension in one region for receiving a battery having a corresponding larger transverse dimension and has a relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding smaller transverse dimension. At least one electrical contact in the compartment is movable for making electrical connection to batteries having a relatively shorter length and a relatively longer length.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable light comprising:
 a light source for producing light when energized; 
 a switch for controlling energization of said light source; 
 a light housing supporting said light source and said switch, said light housing having a cylindrical compartment for receiving batteries of different sizes, wherein the cylindrical compartment has a relatively larger diameter in a central region thereof and has a relatively smaller diameter at least at one end thereof; 
 a single first electrical contact and a single second electrical contact disposed at opposite ends of the cylindrical compartment for making electrical connection to a battery when a battery is received therein, wherein the battery may be of a relatively larger diameter and a relatively shorter length or may be of a relatively smaller diameter and a relatively longer length, and wherein the battery connects to the single first electrical contact and to the single second contact regardless of the diameter and/or length of the battery; and 
 the cylindrical compartment of said light housing having a cylindrical section defining the relatively smaller diameter at least at one end thereof, wherein the diameter of said cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of a battery of a relatively larger diameter and is larger than the diameter of a battery of a relatively smaller diameter. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable light of  claim 1  wherein said light housing comprises:
 a base housing having the cylindrical compartment therein and having an opening; and 
 a cap for removably covering the opening of said base housing for accessing the cylindrical compartment for placing a battery therein and for removing a battery therefrom, 
 wherein said base housing includes one of said first and second electrical contacts in the cylindrical compartment thereof and wherein said cap includes the other of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       3. The portable light of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second electrical contacts comprises:
 a spring contact for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length; or 
 a spring contact disposed in said sleeve for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable light of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a polarity ring of an insulating material and having an opening of a size permitting a battery terminal of one polarity to contact one of said first and second electrical contacts and blocking a battery terminal of the opposite polarity from contacting the one of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       5. The portable light of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said light source; or 
 an electronic circuit responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said light housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said light source responsive thereto; or 
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said light source and responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said light housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said light source responsive thereto. 
 
     
     
       6. The portable light of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical section of the cylindrical compartment of said housing includes:
 a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the cylindrical compartment of said housing; or 
 a cylindrical ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the cylindrical compartment of said housing; or 
 a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the cylindrical compartment of said housing and a ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the cylindrical compartment of said housing. 
 
     
     
       7. A portable device comprising:
 an operative element for operating when energized; 
 a switch for controlling energization of said operative element; 
 a housing supporting said operative element and said switch, said housing having a cylindrical compartment for receiving batteries of different sizes, wherein the cylindrical compartment has a relatively larger diameter in a central region thereof and has a relatively smaller diameter at least at one end thereof; 
 a single first electrical contact and a single second electrical contact disposed at opposite ends of the cylindrical compartment for making electrical connection to a battery when a battery is received therein, wherein the battery may be of a relatively larger diameter and a relatively shorter length or may be of a relatively smaller diameter and a relatively longer length, and wherein the battery connects to the single first electrical contact and to the single second contact regardless of the diameter and/or length of the battery; and 
 the cylindrical compartment of said light housing having a cylindrical section defining the relatively smaller diameter at least at one end thereof, wherein the diameter of said cylindrical section is smaller than the diameter of a battery of a relatively larger diameter and is larger than the diameter of a battery of a relatively smaller diameter. 
 
     
     
       8. The portable device of  claim 7  wherein said housing comprises:
 a base housing having the cylindrical compartment therein and having an opening; and 
 a cap for removably covering the opening of said base housing for accessing the cylindrical compartment for placing a battery therein and for removing a battery therefrom, 
 wherein said base housing includes one of said first and second electrical contacts in the cylindrical compartment thereof and wherein said cap includes the other of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       9. The portable device of  claim 7  wherein at least one of said first and second electrical contacts comprises:
 a spring contact for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length; or 
 a spring contact disposed in said sleeve for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length. 
 
     
     
       10. The portable device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a polarity ring of an insulating material and having an opening of a size permitting a battery terminal of one polarity to contact one of said first and second electrical contacts and blocking a battery terminal of the opposite polarity from contacting the one of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       11. The portable device of  claim 7  further comprising:
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said operative element; or 
 an electronic circuit responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said operative element responsive thereto; or 
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said light source and responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said operative element responsive thereto. 
 
     
     
       12. The portable device of  claim 7  wherein said portable device includes a portable light, said operative element includes a light source for producing light when energized, said switch is for controlling energization of said light source; and said housing supporting said operative element and said switch includes a light housing supporting said light source and said switch. 
     
     
       13. The portable light of  claim 7  wherein the cylindrical section of the cylindrical compartment of said housing includes:
 a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the cylindrical compartment of said housing; or 
 a cylindrical ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the cylindrical compartment of said housing; or 
 a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the cylindrical compartment of said housing and a ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the cylindrical compartment of said housing. 
 
     
     
       14. A portable light comprising:
 a light source for producing light when energized; 
 a switch for controlling energization of said light source; 
 a light housing supporting said light source and said switch, said light housing having a compartment for receiving batteries of different sizes, wherein said compartment has a relatively larger transverse dimension in one region thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding relatively larger transverse dimension and has a relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding relatively smaller transverse dimension; 
 a single first electrical contact and a single second electrical contact disposed in the compartment for making electrical connection to the terminals of a battery when a battery is received therein, wherein at least one of said first and second electrical contacts is movable within the compartment for making electrical connection to the terminals of batteries having a relatively shorter length and a relatively longer length, and wherein the battery terminals connect to the single first electrical contact and to the single second contact regardless of the length and/or transverse dimension of the battery; and 
 the compartment of said light housing having a section defining the relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof, wherein the transverse dimension of said section is smaller than the transverse dimension of a battery of a relatively larger transverse dimension and is larger than the transverse dimension of a battery of a relatively smaller transverse dimension. 
 
     
     
       15. The portable light of  claim 14  wherein said light housing comprises:
 a base housing having the compartment therein and having an opening; and 
 a cap for removably covering the opening of said base housing for accessing the compartment for placing a battery therein and for removing a battery therefrom, 
 wherein said base housing includes one of said first and second electrical contacts in the compartment thereof and wherein said cap includes the other of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       16. The portable light of  claim 14  wherein at least one of said first and second electrical contacts comprises:
 a spring contact for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length; or 
 a spring contact disposed in said sleeve for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable light of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a polarity ring of an insulating material and having an opening of a size permitting a battery terminal of one polarity to contact one of said first and second electrical contacts and blocking a battery terminal of the opposite polarity from contacting the one of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       18. The portable light of  claim 14  further comprising:
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said light source; or 
 an electronic circuit responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said light housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said light source responsive thereto; or 
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said light source and responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said light housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said light source responsive thereto. 
 
     
     
       19. The portable light of  claim 14  wherein the section of the compartment of said housing includes:
 a sleeve disposed in the compartment of said housing; or 
 a ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the compartment of said housing; or 
 a sleeve disposed in the compartment of said housing and a ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the compartment of said housing. 
 
     
     
       20. A portable device comprising:
 an operative element for operating when energized; 
 a switch for controlling energization of said operative element; 
 a housing supporting said operative element and said switch, said housing having a compartment for receiving batteries of different sizes, wherein the compartment has a relatively larger transverse dimension in one region thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding relatively larger transverse dimension and has a relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding relatively smaller transverse dimension; 
 a single first electrical contact and a single second electrical contact disposed in the compartment for making electrical connection to the terminals of a battery when a battery is received therein, wherein at least one of said first and second electrical contacts is movable within the compartment for making electrical connection to the terminals of batteries having a relatively shorter length and a relatively longer length, and wherein the battery terminals connect to the single first electrical contact and to the single second contact regardless of the length and/or transverse dimension of the battery; and 
 the compartment of said light housing having a section defining the relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof, wherein the transverse dimension of said section is smaller than the transverse dimension of a battery of a relatively larger transverse dimension and is larger than the transverse dimension of a battery of a relatively smaller transverse dimension. 
 
     
     
       21. The portable device of  claim 20  wherein said housing comprises:
 a base housing having the compartment therein and having an opening; and 
 a cap for removably covering the opening of said base housing for accessing the compartment for placing a battery therein and for removing a battery therefrom, 
 wherein said base housing includes one of said first and second electrical contacts in the compartment thereof and wherein said cap includes the other of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       22. The portable device of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said first and second electrical contacts comprises:
 a spring contact for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length; or 
 a spring contact disposed in said sleeve for extending and compressing for contacting batteries of the relatively shorter length and of the relatively longer length. 
 
     
     
       23. The portable device of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a polarity ring of an insulating material and having an opening of a size permitting a battery terminal of one polarity to contact one of said first and second electrical contacts and blocking a battery terminal of the opposite polarity from contacting the one of said first and second electrical contacts. 
 
     
     
       24. The portable device of  claim 20  further comprising:
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said operative element; or 
 an electronic circuit responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said operative element responsive thereto; or 
 an electronic circuit for receiving electrical power at voltages produced by batteries of different types and providing therefrom electrical power at a voltage compatible with said light source and responsive to a battery being placed in the compartment of said housing for determining the type of the battery and changing an operating condition of said operative element responsive thereto. 
 
     
     
       25. The portable device of  claim 20  wherein said portable device includes a portable light, said operative element includes a light source for producing light when energized, said switch is for controlling energization of said light source; and said housing supporting said operative element and said switch includes a light housing supporting said light source and said switch. 
     
     
       26. The portable light of  claim 20  wherein the section of the compartment of said housing includes:
 a sleeve disposed in the compartment of said housing; or 
 a ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the compartment of said housing; or 
 a sleeve disposed in the compartment of said housing and a ring disposed in a cap for covering an openable end of the compartment of said housing.